Train derailed near Amsterdam Central Station - services affected

This morning a train has derailed close to the Central Station of Amsterdam.

The derailment (the third this year) means that services into western direction, including Haarlem, Schiphol Airport, The Hague and Alkmaar may suffer delays.

The derailment is particularly awkward as it happens a few days before the start of Sail 2005. The Dutch Railways have said they expect about 1.2 million visitors going to Amsterdam by train between August 17-22, the days that Sail 2005 takes place.

The railways can't say yet whether train service will be fully operational again by Wednesday, the start of Sail 2005.